Customers of Tesla were surprised to find out that their recently purchased Cybertrucks were deteriorating while being left outdoors for a prolonged period.
For instance, Reza Solanti from Texas shared that he ordered a Cybertruck on April 25 and was immediately informed that his vehicle was ready for pickup, according to Techoreon.
Upon questioning the fast processing time, a Tesla staff member explained that the truck had actually left the factory on January 8, meaning it had been exposed to various weather conditions for over four months.
Solanti then decided he would not keep the electric vehicle – which could face significant quality and reliability issues from being left outside for so long.
The elements are not good for cars in general, but electric vehicles suffer greater risks – like battery degradation from temperature fluctuations, reduced charge capacity, moisture damage from inadequate ventilation and possible rust formation, according to The Cool Down.
Cybertrucks, in particular, also already struggle from rapid depreciation due to ridiculously high repair costs, numerous recalls and manufacturing problems.
That, in addition to CEO Elon Musk’s controversial role in the Trump White House – which prompted worldwide protests of Teslas and sent it stock plummeting – left the company with thousands of unsold Cybertrucks.
Tesla CEO Elon Musk had claimed that Tesla had more than one million reservations for the Cybertruck before it was released to the public
The company now has thousands of unsold Cybertrucks sitting outside its factories
In the days before the vehicle was released in late 2023, Musk had claimed that Tesla had more than one million reservations for the vehicle, according to Business Insider.
But since the Cybertrucks were released to the public, Tesla has sold just over 46,000 of the vehicles, Fortune reports.
Its sales dwindled even further in the first three months of 2025 – falling to 6,406 units sold, compared to 12,991 units the quarter before.
Making matters worse, the company had to halt deliveries in March due to concerns the side paneling was falling off – and days later, Tesla recalled every single Cybertruck ever sold due to the issue.
That marked the eighth recall on the Cybertruck in just about 15 months of production.
In fact, just one month before, the company recalled an additional 375,000 vehicles due to a steering issue.
Photographs now show thousands of unsold vehicles outside of the company’s factories.
Some are awaiting delivery, while others lack buyers.
CEO Elon Musk’s controversial role in the Trump White House prompted worldwide protests of Teslas and sent it stock plummeting
In an effort to get customers back, Tesla has offered a lifetime of free charging for customers who buy a new Foundation Series Cybertruck – though that model comes with a $95,000 price tag.
Tesla executives also unveiled a cheaper version of the vehicles, costing about $70,000 and is offering financing deals as low as zero percent on the new version of the Model Y.
At the same time, the EV maker dropped production targets for several Cybertruck lines over the past few months, two employees told Business Insider.
It also reportedly cut Cybertruck production teams by about half.
But still, the company has continued to see its sales plummet.
By the end of the first quarter last month, profits cratered 71 percent as the EV giant pulling in $409 million compared to $1.4 billion during the same stretch last year.
In China, sales are also down over 18 percent compared to last year, UK sales are down 62 percent and German sales are down 46 percent.
Tesla’s stock price also shed nearly 40 percent of its value since January, when Musk started serving as head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) and was spotted everywhere with President Donald Trump.
He has now said he would no longer fund political campaigns and has ‘done enough’
The outspoken EV CEO has since confirmed to an audience at the Qatar Economic Forum that he would no longer fund political campaigns after he had ‘done enough.’
When asked if he was sure about his job security, Musk responded with a quip.
‘Well, no, I might die,’ he said while laughing.
He also told the live audience that his time as a campaign contributor will be winding down.
‘In terms of political spending, I’m going to do a lot less in the future,’ he said when asked about his efforts to help Republicans.
In the meantime, prospective Cybertruck buyers are encouraged to ask specific questions about their vehicle’s production dates and storage histories before finalizing purchases.
Those concerned about getting an older vehicle can also request documentation showing when their vehicle left the factory.
